Quick-acting wrench



March 79 H95() y, A, RloRDAN 2,499,609

QUICK-ACTING WRENCH Filed Dec. '7, 1945 1N V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 3.1; n'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i I I I 2,499,609 y QUICK-ACTING' WRENCH John Anthony Riordan, Kermit, Tex.

Application December 7, 194,5, Serial No. .633,314

This invention relates to quick acting end wrenches of the adjustable open end type. An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the movable jaw of an adjustable end wrench, may be readily and easily moved into engagement with a nut to be rotated by the wrench, and the locking mechanism moved to secure the movable jaw in its adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the jaw securing mechanism will be held against accidental movement, after it has been moved to secure the movable jaw.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section, illustrating a wrench constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 of the drawing.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the locking member of the wrench.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the wrench includes a body portion in the form of a bar having a handle 5 and an integral jaw 6 formed at one end thereof, the jaw 6 being slightly offset so that the gripping surface 'I thereof will lie in parallel relation with the gripping surface 8 of the movable jaw 9.

The jaw t is formed with a cut-away portion defining an elongated bearing I!) through which the curved surface of the bar Il of the movable jaw, operates.

The bar II is formed with teeth I2 disposed along the inner surface thereof, which teeth are adapted to cooperate with the teeth I3 of the pivoted locking member Ill which is eccentrcally mounted within the opening I5 formed in the wrench adjacent to the inner end of the jaw 6. Because of the manner in which the locking member Illis mounted, it will be seen that by swinging the locking member to the right or left to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawing, the movable jaw 9 will be released for sliding movement with respect to the stationary jaw t. rThis member I4 is mounted in such a way that the lower corners of the pivoted member will contact the lower end wall Cil 2 anims. (o1. :s1-4135 of opening when swung right or left to the release position, restricting lateral movement of the locking member I4 to prevent it from moving too far. One end of the locking member I4 is mortised providing an opening I1 having walls I8, in which openings, the substantially U-shaped spring IS is mounted, the lower straight end of the spring bearing against the end wall of the opening I5 while the legs of the spring engage the walls I8 to normally urge the locking member to its locking position.

The pin I9 provides the support for the locking member I4, the locking member I4 pivoting on the pin I9.

Formed in one surface of the locking member I4 is a depression adapted to receive the tapered end of the spring pressed plunger 20 which is mounted in a bore formed in the wrench adjacent to the inner end of the jaw 6. When the locking member has been moved to the position shown by Figure 1 of the drawing, the plunger 2li will move to engage the locking member, securing the locking member against accidental movement to release the movable jaw.

In the use of the wrench, the locking member is moved from the full line position shown by Figure 2 of the drawing to a dotted line position shown by Figure 2. The movable jaw 9 is free to move with respect to the jaw S, and when it has been moved to properly grip a nut, the lockingmember is moved so that the teeth thereof cooperate with the teeth I2 of the movable jaw, securing the movable jaw in its position of adjustment.

Since the construction of the locking member is such that the side edges thereof lie within the confines of the edges of the opening of the body portion in which it is held, it will be seen that the locking member may be easily operated by the thumb and index finger of the hand, while the hand is gripping the handle of the wrench.

After an adjustment has been made, the locking member will securely lock the movable wrench against movement due to the action of the spring I6 which moves the locking member to its active position.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench of the adjustable open end type, comprising, an elongated member having a xed jaw at one end and another portion forming a handle, a slideable jaw supported by the member for movement in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of the member, a plurality of spaced teeth on the slideable jaw, and a locklng device pivotally mounted on the member having teeth thereon adapted to mesh with teeth of the slideable jaw, when in locked position, whereby the slideable jaw is held in a position of adjustment, the pivotal axis of the locking member being near the side thereof opposite to that which carries the teeth, and parallel to the direction of movement of the slideable jaw, the locking device having a surface on each side thereof, between the pivotal axis and the teeth thereon, of suiiicient size to be engageable by a finger of the hand, when the wrench is held thereby, the teeth on the slideable jaw and locking device being so constructed that the locking device may be swung by a nger to an unlocked inoperative position on both sides of the member where its teeth are out of mesh with the slideable jaw.

2. A wrench in accordance with claim 1 Wherein the teeth on the slideable jaw and locking' member are formed with parallel sides.

JOHN ANTHONY RIORDAN.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 502,997 Pratt Aug. 8, 1893 1,019,806 Kreger Mar. 12, 1912 1,399,633 Lumsden Dec. 6, 1921 1,467,709 Coughlin Sept. 11, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 965 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1877 366,303 Great Britain Feb. 4, 1932 

